Arvid Lindblad, an 18-year-old from Surrey, will become Britain's fifth Formula 1 driver on the 2026 grid after being announced as a Racing Bulls driver. The teenager, who impressed in Formula Two this year, replaces Yuki Tsunoda alongside retained driver Liam Lawson.
Lindblad's promotion follows Isack Hadjar's move to Red Bull to partner Max Verstappen. Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko chose Lindblad over Tsunoda, who will remain in the Red Bull family as a test and reserve driver. Lindblad, the youngest ever F2 race winner at 17 years and 243 days, secured his first F2 victory in Saudi Arabia in April and won the feature race in Barcelona in June.
Born in Virginia Water, Surrey, to a Swedish father and a mother of Indian heritage, Lindblad began karting at age five. He became British Cadet Champion in 2019 and joined the Red Bull junior team in 2021 at age 13. A chance encounter with Lando Norris at 14 saw Lindblad boldly predict: 'Lando, I want you to remember me, I will see you in five years.'
Lindblad's single-seater career includes a Macau Grand Prix victory in 2023 and becoming the youngest F3 winner in 2024. He completed his first F1 test at Imola in February and impressed in his first F1 practice session at the Mexican Grand Prix in October, setting the sixth-fastest lap. He currently sits sixth in the F2 standings with one round remaining.
Lindblad will join Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, George Russell, and Ollie Bearman as British drivers on the 2026 grid.
